Watford are closing in on former Premier League attacker.
Watford are closing in on a deal for Mauro Zarate, Italian website Tuttomercatoweb report.
Zarate left West Ham United 12 months ago to sign with Fiorentina, but is claimed to be heading back to the Premier League, with Watford agreeing a fee for his services.
Fiorentina’s Mauro Zarate in action with Tottenham’s Eric Dier, Joshua Onomah and Ryan Mason
The deal will cost Watford around £2 million, and Zarate is set to sign a contract until June 2019. Tuttomercatoweb report the transfer could be finalised in the next few hours.
Zarate, 29, left West Ham after being squeezed out by Dimitri Payet’s arrival last season, but has had a mixed spell at Fiorentina.
He scored on his debut and ended up with three goals in 15 matches last season, although this season he has struggled to win a starting place.
West Ham’s Mauro Zarate in action with Stoke City’s Glenn Whelan
Zarate has made just one Serie A start this campaign, with six substitute appearances. Despite his limited opportunities he has netted twice, and has two further goals in his one Europa League appearance.
He scored five goals in one and a half seasons at West Ham, and also had an unhappy loan spell at QPR after being cast aside by Sam Allardyce.
Zarate has also played on loan at Birmingham City earlier in his career, and looks set for one more crack at the Premier League.
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